UMass trying to snap 15-game losing streak
UMass quarterback Brady Olson’s crash course as an FBS field general is proceeding ahead of schedule.
The true freshman from Bellingham will make his fourth career start when the Minutemen (0-4) host the Toledo Rockets (2-2) at noon Saturday at McGuirk Stadium.
Coach Walt Bell’s initial plan was to let Olson learn the collegiate game as an understudy to Tyler Lytle, a graduate transfer from Colorado.
That carefully composed timetable got blown to smithereens when Lytle suffered what is reported to be a broken wrist in the Minutemen’s 51-7 loss in the season opener at Pittsburgh.
“Every rep is important, every practice is important, every day is important and the good thing about Brady is he is not a mistake-repeater,” said Bell. “He learns really easy so it’s just pressing through the mistakes and there are going to be some as a young guy.”
Olson made his debut Sept. 11 in the Minutemen’s 45-28 loss to Boston College. Olson struggled in the first half but found his traction in the second, where UMass scored all of its points. BC’s strength on defense is the secondary and Brady completed 14-of-29 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns.
“We have to limit him to what he does well and help him as much as we can as a coaching staff and the other 10 guys around him have to play well,” said Bell.
The UMass schedule was front-loaded with a pair of ACC teams out of a gate followed by Eastern Michigan, a top-rated program from the Mid-America Conference.
UMass got pasted 53-3 last Saturday at No. 17 Coastal Carolina. Olson was 14-of-23 for 86 yards passing before he was relieved by Garrett Dzuro. On the season, Olson has completed 50-of-90 passes for 850 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions.
UMass has lost 15 straight games but is entering a winnable stretch with consecutive home games against Toledo and UConn, which was upset by Holy Cross in its season opener. The Minutemen get back in the stew on Oct. 23 when they face Florida State on the road.
“Toledo is just like any other college team in the country, they are going to come out and try to play their best football,” said Bell. “They have been in a bowl game every year for a long time and I expect them to play their best football.”